Scottsdale residents’ reaction to rape arrest mixed

Residents at a Scottsdale apartment complex where a woman was raped two weeks ago expressed a mix of relief and skepticism over Friday’s announcement by police that they had arrested a suspect.

A rapist struck at 11 p.m. Oct. 18 at Camden San Paloma Apartments at Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard. A second attack occurred a week later at 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the Saddletree Apartments, which is across Shea Boulevard from Camden San Paloma.

Both attacks occurred in ground-level apartments and the rapist entered through unlocked doors, police said. Police believe the attacker hid in bushes while looking through windows for potential victims.

Police announced Friday evening they had arrested a 16-year-old suspect in the case, one day after they cleared their original suspect — 22-year-old Ryan Festa because his DNA did not match samples taken from the crime scenes.

“We are positive that this is the right guy,” said Sgt. Mark Clark said of the second suspect at a 9 p.m. news conference Friday. Clark said preliminary DNA samples from the crimes matched the new suspect and at least one victim had identified him as the attacker.

The suspect, who was arrested at about 5 p.m., was booked on suspicion of sexual assault, burglary and kidnapping, police said. Underage suspects are not named by azcentral.com unless they are charged as adults.

It’s not clear when the suspect will be arraigned. Police and Jerry Cobb, of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, did not return phone calls Saturday.

"I’m sure there will be some skepticism,” said Hank Grabowski, who’s lived at Camden San Paloma for two years. “They (residents) just want to make sure that this is him. I’m sure everybody will still be like, ‘Well you had somebody the first time and that wasn't the case.’ ”

Another Camden San Paloma resident, who only wanted to be identified by his first name of David, said he personally knows the victim who was sexually assaulted. He said she positively identified the new suspect and he has no doubt police now have the right man.

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